Concrete form appliance



July 21, 1936. c. 1. WILLIAMS CONCRETE FORM APPLIANCE Filed Oct. 9, 1934 3 Sheets-Sheet 1 y 1936- c. I. WILLIAMS CONCRETE FORM APPLIANCE 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed 001;. 9, 1934 5 rm 7: N Nl\ aw NJ f M Z w .QN\ Z x z W... mw/ Z2253 FD & a. W MN 9w h n INN WQ N July .21, 1936. c. 1. WILLIAMS CONCRETE FORM APPLIANCE s sheets-sneet 5 Filed Oct. 9, 1934 Patented July 21, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE CONCRETE FORM APPLIANCE Application October 9, 1934, Serial No. 747,582

4 Claims.

The invention relates to improvements in construction of monolithic structures such as concrete walls, dams, foundations, etc., by the use of forms, and more particularly it relates to an improved means and method for fastening together oppositely positioned spaced apart forms and similar devices.

An object of the invention is the provision of improved fastening means for oppositely positioned concrete forms adapted for manipulation entirely from outside the forms to fixedly fasten the forms in any one of a plurality of predetermined spaced apart positions in combination with indicating or gauge means from which the spacing of the form members can be accurately determined.

A further object of the invention is the provision of improved fastening means for concrete forms and other spaced apart members, said means being adapted for manipulation from outside the forms and adjustable to selectively hold the forms in any one of a plurality of predetermined fixed spaced apart positions.

Still another object of the invention is the provision of novel means for fastening a tie rod to oppositely positioned concrete forms or similar members, said means including spacer members fastened to the forms and adjustably fastened to the tie rod to vary the spacing of the forms or members within predetermined limits for a tie rod of selected length.

Another object of the invention is the pro vision of an improved tie rod unit adapted for permanent embedment in the concrete and providing means preventing rotation or longitudinal movement of the rod in the concrete.

Among the further objects of the invention is the provision of a tie rod and fastening means therefor, adapted to be externally manipulated and adjusted by one man, which may be rapidly installed and removed, the fastening means including a gauge member providing means constantly visible from outside the form for checking the accuracy of the adjustment.

A further object of the invention is to generally improve fastening means for use in concrete forms and to provide an improved method of assembly and installation whereby the entire assembled fastening means is visible to a workman while placing the same in initial position in the form.

A still further object of the invention is the provision of a tie rod and adjustable fastening means therefor, which is easily manipulated,

durable, economical and satisfactory for its intended purpose.

Many other objects and advantages of the construction herein shown and described will be obvious to those skilled in the art from the dis- 5 closure herein given.

To this end my invention consists in the novel construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described and more particularly pointed out in the claims. 10

Referring now to the drawings forming part of this specification and representing a preferred embodiment of the invention, Figs. 1 and 2 are, respectively, side and end elevational views of a pair of oppositely positioned forms in position 5 to pour an extension of a wall with a plurality of fastening devices embodying the invention mounted thereon in partial and fully assembled position;

Fig. 3 illustrates a fragmentary portion of one 20 side of a form member in vertical section, a tie rod and means for fastening the tie rod in selected position relative to the form member;

Fig. 4 is a view along the line 44 of Fig. 3;

Fig. 5 is a view along the line 5-5 of Fig. 3, 25 drawn to a larger scale;

Fig. 6 is a view along the line 6-6 of Fig. 3;

Fig. '7 is a perspective view of a pair of disassembled members which form an improved wing nut when assembled;

Fig. 8 is a view showing a, portion of the fastening means in position on a vertically inclined form; and

Figs. 9 and 10 are perspective views of members forming the fastening device.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings, the numeral IU designates a completed section of a concrete wall from which the forms have been removed. The numeral ll generally designates a concrete form in position to pour an ex- 40 tension of the wall In. While the form is shown as sectional, it is to be understood that tie rods, fastening and indicating or gauge means therefor are equally as well adapted for use with temporary form members, and with one or both of 45 the spaced apart forms inclined to the vertical if desired. The form ll comprises a pair of oppositely positioned side walls each constructed of a plurality of longitudinally extending boards I2 fastened to spaced apart upright members I3. 50 preferably by nails or spikes not shown.

The oppositely positioned form members are held in predetermined spaced apart relation by a plurality of fastening means each comprising an assembly of various members including a tie 55 I either rotation or longitudinal movement in the concrete. The projections I I also serve 'as stops or gauge members for the waler rods I5 enabling the latter to be accurately positioned by threading on the tie rod until the waler rods are in contact With the projections.

A plurality of assemblies of fastening means each comprising a tie rod and a waler rod or rods are arranged in the forms in any desired vertical and longitudinal spacing, the opposite sides of the form for this purpose being provided with aligned holes I8 formed in the boards I2. It is found in practice that the oppositely aligned holes I8 are easily bored from one side of the forms by using an auger of suitable length.

The holes I8 are of slightly larger diameter than the waler rods I 5 thereby providing a space through which the workman may see the oppo site hole I8 when the waler rod is in the adjacent hole and enabling the workman to easily position an assembly of a tie rod and a waler rod or of a tie rod and a pair of waler rods from one side of the form.

In Walls of ordinary thickness 9. tie rod of onehalf inch or smaller diameter may be used. If a one-half inch tie rod is used it is found satisfactory to use three-fourth inch waler rods and to provide one inch diameter holes I8 in the forms. The workman, in positioning the assembly of tie and waler rods in the form from one side, can easily see through the one-fourth inch clearance space between the waler rod I5 and the top of the adjacent hole I8. Tie rods I4 of larger or smaller diameters than one-half inch may be used in combination with correspondingly larger or smaller waler rods I5 and'holes I8.

A single assembly of a tie rod I4 and a pair of waler rods I5 is adapted for use in holding the side walls of the forms in any selected spaced apart relation between a predetermined maximum and minimum. For this purpose each of the waler rods I5 mounted on the tie rod I4 are adapted to be fastened against longitudinal movement, relative to the form member through which it projects in any one of a plurality of selected positions by means of a tubular spacer member I9 loosely mounted on the waler rod. The inner end of the member I9 is fastened to the form by threading it into the hole I8 preferably after the assembly of tie and waler rods is initially positioned in the form. The member I9 is accurately positioned relative to the form by contact of projections 20 with the outer surface of the form when the member has been threaded to a predetermined position. The intermediate portion of the waler rod I5 within and adjacent the member I9 is provided with a plurality of grooves 2| arranged in pairs on opposite sides of the rod. The pairs of grooves 2| are adapted to be respectively brought into register with a pair of slots 22 provided in the member I9 by correspondingly shifting the form section on which the member I9 is mounted. The inner bounding surfaces of the grooves 2| are 2| comprising a pair.

preferably parallel planes in alignment with the corresponding bounding edges of the slots 22 in the spacer member I9. Any number of pairs of grooves 2| may be provided in the waler rod I5 and may be arranged in any desired spaced longitudinal relation. Thirteen of such pairs of grooves are shown in each waler rod I5 with a spacing of four pairs of grooves per inch per length of the rod.

A key 23, slldably mounted in the slots 22 of the member I9, is adapted for entry into any one of the pairs of grooves 2| to thereby fasten the waler rod I5 and the spacer member I9 together. The key 23 comprises a bar having a circular aperture 24 of slightly larger diameter than the member I9 with an elongated recess 25 opening into the aperture. The width of the recess 25 is slightly greater than the thickness of the waler rod material between the grooves Obviously by shifting the form onwhich the member I9 is mounted, the slots 22 in the member may be brought into registry withany pair of grooves 2|. By positioning the key 23 with the bounding edges of its recess 25 in the registering slots 22 and grooves 2|, the waler rod I5 and the member I9 are locked together. The upper flanged edge 26 of the key 23 is adapted for lifting the key from its locking position to a position where the aperture 24 is substantially concentric with the rod I5 and the member I9, thereby permitting relative movement of the member I9 and the waler rod I5 to adjust the spacing of the form members to walls of different thicknesses.

Since the tie rods I5 are to remain permanently embedded in the concrete, it is desirable that the over-all length of such rods be less than the width of the wall. The slots 22 may be positioned at any convenient distance from the extremity of the threaded end of the member I9. If for example this distance is made three inches, the grooves 2| on the waler rod I5 are preferably so arranged that the innermost, pair is approximately four inches from the socket end of the waler rod. The outer end of the spacer member- I9 extends beyond the slots 22 sufficiently that the end face of the member is aligned with the inner bounding transverse edge of a pair of grooves 2| for all positions of the member when the waler rod I5 is fastened thereto by the key 23.

In order that the position of the tie rod I in' the form may be checked from the outside, I have provided dimensions on the waler rod I5 as shown in Figs. 4 and 10, which indicate the dis- 5:.

tance the end of the tie rod is from the adjacent end of the wall. For example, when the waler rod I5 and spacer member I9 are in the relative position shown in Fig. 10, the end of the member I9 coincides with the bounding edge of the adjacent groove 2| which is marked one inch, thereby indicating to the observer that the adiacent end of the tie rod I4 is one inch from the corresponding edge of the wall. Upon movement of the form and the member I9 a distance corre- The suggested dimensions and the suggested number and spacing of the grooves 2| permit tie rods 4 of the same length to be used in pouring walls having a thickness of not less than one inch and not more than seven inches greater than the over-all length of the tie rod. The waler rods l5 and spacer members l9 are adapted for repeated use, and by providing a stock of tie rods M of a plurality of over-all lengths, differing by six inches, the fastening devices are adapted for use in pouring walls of any practicable thickness. For example, a tie rod having a length of six inches can be used in pouring walls varying in thickness from seven inches to thirteen inches; a twelve inch tie rod can be used in pouring walls of thicknesses from a minimum of thirteen inches to a maximum of i9 inches; an eighteen inch tie rod can be used in pouring all thicknesses from nineteen inches to a maximum of twenty-five inches, etc.

The outer ends of the waler rods l5 have a bracket 21 loosely mounted thereon and are threaded to receive a wing nut 30. The lengths of the waler rods |5 are such that their threaded ends project beyond the waler members 3| when the rod has its maximum projection inside the form. The bracket 2'! provides a hub member 29 having an outwardly diverging socket 28 adapting the bracket for cooperative relation with the waler members 3| on both vertical and inclined forms as respectively shown in Figs. 3 and 8. The member 29 provides bearing faces 23a. and 2% with which the wing nut 33 contacts when the waler members 3| are clamped against the upright members I3. In Fig. 3 the bracket 2! is shown in cooperative relation with waler members 3| of a vertical wall, the face 29a providing an abutment for the wing nut 38. In Fig. 8, the bracket 21 is shown in cooperative relation to a form inclined to the vertical with the face 29b of the member 29 also providing an abutment for the wing nut 30.

The double wing nut 30 comprises two substantially identical sections 30a and 3012 which are threaded or tapped while the sections are clamped together in longitudinal alignment. Each section 30a and 30b is provided with a groove 32 on one side of the tapped hole, and a corresponding projection 33 on the other side. The grooves 32 and the projections 33 are positioned so that the projection on one section will enter the corresponding groove on the other section when the sections are longitudinally aligned. In their longitudinally aligned contacting position the two sections can be threaded together as a unit on or off the waler rod and neither can be threaded on or off without simultaneously moving the other section. By attempting to oppositely rotate the two sections in directions tending to remove the projection 33 from the groove 32, the sections will be clamped or locked together in the same manner as when two ordinary nuts are threaded into close contact. Final manipulation of the two sections to lock the same as described not only holds the wing nuts in clamping contact with the hub member 29 and prevents accidental release which might otherwise occur, but also enables the wing nut to be utilized to rotate the waler or end section of the tie rod and thereby disconnect it from the intermediate imbedded section. The grooves 32 and the projections 33 are provided in each of the sections 30a and 30b in order that the sections may be interchangeable. The projections and grooves are so positioned that the inoperative projection on the section adjacent the hub member 29 will clear the member as the sections are threaded into contact with the face 2% or the face 29b.

The assembly of the various members comprising the fastening means and the various steps of installations are shown in Figs. 1 and 2 and are summerized as follows:

The oppositely positioned forms are erected and spaced apart approximately the width of the walls to be poured. A plurality of assembled fastening means are provided, each comprising a waler rod l5 having a tie rod l4 threaded into its socket I6 until the end of the rod |5 contacts with the projection H. The individual rods Hi and I5 so fastened together are positioned in the form by the workman inserting the same through a pair of aligned holes I8 with the tie rod in advance. The hole l8, being larger than the waler rod |5, the view of the workman is unobstructed in guiding the tie rod l4 through the hole IS in the opposite wall. The spacer member is is then fastened to the form and the bracket 2? and wing nut 30 are mounted on the waler rod !5 as indicated at the top of Fig. 2. The waler rod |5 is shifted to bring the selected pair of grooves 2|, corresponding to the width of the wall to be poured, into registry with the slots 22 in the members l9 and the rod is then locked by inserting the key 23 in the registering slots and grooves.

Insertion or installation of the various assemblies of waler rods and tie rods having been completed, the workman then proceeds to the other side of the wall and threads a waler rod onto the projecting end of the tie rod l4 until the end of the waler rod contacts with the projection IT. The spacer member I9 is then fastened to the form and the waler rod I5 is fastened to the spacer member l9 by inserting the key 23 in the pair of grooves 2|, corresponding to the width of the wall to be poured. The opposite form members are thereby positioned and held in predetermined spaced apart relation corresponding to the width of wall to be poured. Since the assembly is fastened to the opposite form member, a slight amount of the adjacent form member inwardly or outwardly may be necessary to bring the proper grooves 2| into register with the slots 22. The bracket 21 and wing nut are then mounted on the waler rod l5, installation of the fastening means then being completed as indicated at the middle of Fig. 2.

Waler members 3| are next positioned as shown at the lower left corner of Fig. 2, the wing nut 3|) being threaded to clamp the bracket 21 against the waler members following which the nuts are locked by turning the individual sections 30a and 38b towards each other as above described. The workman then returns to the other side of the form from which he initially inserted the fastening means and then secures the waler members 3| to the fastening means in the same manner as described for the opposite side and thereby completes the assembly of the forms in predetermined spaced apart relation.

After the concrete is set, disassembly and re moval of the fastening means and forms is easily accomplished by detaching the waler rods l5 from the tie rods I4. This is accomplished by turning the waler rods to unthread the same from the tie rods l4 which are held against rotation by projections H. In the repeated use of sectional forms it is not necessary to remove the spacers !9 from the forms. The same waler rods, brackets and wing nuts may be repeatedly used and with slight or no shifting of the wing nuts 30 if used in pouring walls of the same thickness.

Thus it will be seen that I have provided novel fastening means adapted for interchangeable mounting on oppositely positioned form members or the like, whereby such members may be manipulated entirely from outside the forms to fixedly fasten the form members together in any one of a plurality of predetermined spaced apart positions, the fastening means including gauge members, observable from the outside of the forms and providing indicia by means of which the spacing of the forms can be easily read or determined.

Having thus described my invention, it is obvious that various immaterial modifications may be made in the same without departing from the spirit of my invention; hence I do not wish to be understood as limiting myself to the exact form, construction, arrangement and combination of parts herein shown and described or uses mentioned.

What I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent is:

l. A fastening device for oppositely positioned form members having aligned holes arranged in pairs, said device comprising a pair of tubular members respectively mounted on the outside of said form members with the inner ends positioned in said holes, a tie rod positioned in said tubular member, said rod comprising an intermediate section positioned between and stopping short of said form members and end sections having threaded engagement with said inner section, a wing nut having threaded engagement with the outer end of each of said end sections and providing means for locking engagement therewith to prevent its rotation relative to the sections, said tubular members each provided with a slot and said end sections each provided with a plurality of grooves adapted to register with said slots upon relative movement of the form member and tie rod, key members insertable in said registering slots and grooves to lock said tubular members and tie rods against relative movement, and means on each of said outer sections indicating the distance from the adjacent form member to the contiguous end of said inner rod section.

2. A fastening device for oppositely positioned form members having aligned holes arranged in pairs, said device comprising a pair of tubular members respectively mounted on the outside of said form members with the inner ends positioned in said holes, a tie rod positioned in said form members, said rod comprising an intermediate section positioned between and stopping short of said form members and end sections having threaded engagement with said inner section, said tubular members each providing a pair of oppositely positioned slots, said end sections each providing a plurality of pairs of grooves adapted to register with said slots upon relative movement of the form members and tie rod, and key members insertable in said registering slots and grooves to lock said tubular members and tie rod against relative movement.

3. A device for holding a pair of oppositely positioned wall forms in selectively spaced-apart relation, said device comprising a pair of fastening members adapted to be fixedly mounted on the outside of the respective form members, a rigid tie member adapted to extend through aligned holes in said form members with its projecting end portions respectively in closely spaced contiguity to said fastening members, the end portions of the tie member providing a plurality of longitudinally spaced sockets and each fastening member providing a slot adapted to successively register with said sockets as the projection of the tie member from the wall forms is increased or diminished, and key members insertable in said slots and registering sockets and operable thereby to lock the tie member against movement relative to the wall forms.

4. A device adapted for holding a pair of oppositely positioned wall forms in selectively spaced-apart relation, said device comprising a pair of fastening members adapted to be fixedly and detachably mounted on the outside of the form members, a rigid tie member adapted to extend through aligned holes in said form members with its projecting end portions respectively in closely spaced contiguity to said fastening members, the end portions of the tie member providing a plurality of longitudinally spaced sockets and each fastening member providing a slot adapted to successively register with said sockets as the projection of the tie member from the wall forms is increased or diminished, and key members insertable in said slots and registering sockets and operable thereby to lock the tie member against movement relative to the wall forms, said tie member comprising a mid-die rod and end rods remcvably secured to the middle rod, the overall length of the middle rod being less than the minimum selected spacing of said wail forms.

CHESTER I. WILLIAMS. 

